Ben Gibson insists he won’t be thinking about his transfer links with Chelsea on Sunday

But Gibson’s focus is on impressing his own boss Aitor Karanka, not Antonio Conte, when Diego Costa and Co visit the Riverside.

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The Boro star said: “It’s obviously flattering but I just concentrate on myself and staying in this team.

“I let other people mention me. My next step is trying to play a full season in this division and trying to stay in the Premier League. I’m not looking at anything other than that. I’m inexperienced at this level.

“This weekend I’m playing against Costa and you know what you’re going to get from him, he’s going to want to wrestle and fight you. It’s a challenge I’m really looking forward to.”